Support for air-retainer valves



Feb. 14, 1928.

P. J. M KEE SUPPORT FOR AIR RETAINER VALVES v Filed March 1, 1926 I rwentor Attorney Ill] rater-iron a. Means, or DEER Lone-n, rrorrrana.

SUPPORT FOR AIR-RETAINER VALVES.

Application filed March 1, 1826.

The present invention relates to a support which is adapted particularly for use in connectlon with th air retainer valves which are associated railway cars.

e The air retainer valves now generally in use are constructed of cast iron material and oftentimes whenever it becomes necessary to remove the valve ljrom the car for cleaning or repairing purposes, considerable (lit o liculty is experienced, and as a result, the

attaching lugs which are associated with the valve will become broken ofi, thus rendering the valve useless.

One oi the important objects of the pres- 3 cut invention is to provide a support wherenecessary waste.

A further object 18 to provide a support air retainer valves 01 the above mentioned character which provides a perma nent fixture and includes a means for detachably clamping the retainer valve in position so as to enable said valve to be readily and easily removed for cleaning or repairing purposes without any injury being sustained.

A still further object is to provide a support of the above mentioned character which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong, and durable and further well adapted to the purpose tor which it is designed. 7

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

in. the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the support embodying my invention showing the same in use.

Figure 2 is an end elevatlon of the support, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view approximately on line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

in the drawing, wherein for the purpose or illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally an air retainer valve of the double pressure type and as the same is well known in the art, and as said valve :t'urther "forms no important part of the pres- Serisl No. 91,84-4.

ent invention, a detailed description there is thought unnecessary. it is OfCOLlISB to be understood that the invention may be equally as well employedin connection with air retainer valves of the single pressure type.

The usualheragonal not which forms a part of the valvel and allords a means for connecting the valve with the pipe 2 is indicated at 3. constructed of cast iron material and are ordinarily provided with laterally extending lugs to facilitate the attachment of the valves on the under side of a railway car in the manner also well known in the art.

Whenever it becomes necessary to remove the retainer valve in order that the same may be cleaned or repaired, it has been found necessary to employ a crow bar or the like, and as the result ot the use of such implement, the attaching lugs of the air retainer valves will accidentally. break oil as is indicated at l in the drawing. An air retamer valve which has its attaching lugs broken oil is rendered useless and as a result he? comes waste material and must be replaced by a new valve, thus entailing considerable cost and expense. For the purpose of overcoming the unnecessary waste of air retainer valves which have their lugsbroken oil, I have provided a highly novel yetv simple support for permitting such valves to be again placed in use after the same have been repaired or cleaned.

My improved support comprises a bracket designated generally by the numeral 5 and this bracket includes a flat strip of metal which is bent at points adjacent its ends as indicated at 6 so that the intermediate portion 7 of said strip is spaced from the portion of the railway car to which the ends of the strip of the bracket 5 are secured by appropriate fastening means illustrated at 8. This bracket 5 is preferably secured to the These air retainer valves are car at. a point adjacent the hexagonal shaped head 3 which forms a part of the air retainer valve 1.

The support further includes the clamp 9 which is constructed of flexible sheet metal materiah and the intermediate portion of the strip of metal forming the clamp 9 is provided with the laterally extending ears or wings 10 which extend on the opposite sides of the strips and these extensions are bent around t 1e side edges of the intermediate portion 7 of the bracket 5 and the free ends of these extensions abut the inner face of the intermediate portion 7 of the bracket 5 and also abut with each other. A rivet 11 affords a means whereby the intermediate portion of the strip forming the clamp 9 may be secured to the intermediate portion 7 of the b 'acket 5 and this construction is also clearly illustrated in Figure The provision of the laterally extending ears or wings 10 on the intermediate portion oi the clamp 9 will ailord a. rigid connection be tween the clamp and the bracket.

The free end portions oi the strip forming the clamping member 9 are so bent as to fit snugly around the sides 01 the hexagonal shaped nien'lber 3 which is associated with the air retainer valve 1 and the free ends of the strips comprising the clamping member disposed ends of the strips forming the clamping member, and a suitable nut 13 is threaded on the threaded end ot' the bolt and it is obvious that by turning; the nut on the bolt in one direction, the clamping member 9 may be drawn tightly around the hexagonal shaped member 3 so as to prevent the accidental displacement of the clamping member therefrom. The downwardly disposed end let is bent into engagement with one of the sides of the nut so as to lock the same against further rotation, thus hold the bolt in its properly adjusted position and thereby insuring the proper engagement of the clamping member with the hexagonal shaped member 3.

As is clearly shown in Figure 1, the support will maintain the air retainer valve 1 in proper position on the railway car, and whenever it becomes necessary to remove the air retainer valve for cleaning or repairing purposes, the same may be easily disengaged from the clamping member 9 Without necessitating the removal of the support which is adapted to provide a permanent fixture. After the valve has been cleaned or repaired, the same is replaced. and placed in the support where it is held in its proper position.

The provision of a support of the above mentioned character which is adapted for a particular purpose will save considerable time and labor in removing: and attaching an air retainer valve on a railway car. and will fLlFiTllElllllQlC eliminate unnet ary waste and thus minimize the expens. and cost incidentto the handling ot' the air retainer valves on railway cars.

\Vhile I have shown the preferred embodiment 01'' my invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of parts may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent A support tor an air retainer valve cone prising a bracket, :1 chnnpingmember formed oi a strip of flexible material, the intermediate portion thereof being disposed against the outer side of the intermediab portion of the bracket, a pair of cars extend-- ing laterally from the opposite sides of the intermediate portion of said c'lauip strip, said ears being bent around the sides at the intermediate portion (Til the bracket, the free ends oi said ears being disposed adjacent the inner face of the intermediate portion of the bracket and secured thereto, a bolt and nut tor adjustably securing the Free ends of the clamp strip together whereby the lat- .ter may be securely tightened about the valve, one of the free ends of the clamp having a reverse bend to engage the not to prevent accidental turning of the nut on the bolt.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

PATRICK J. MCKEE. 

